Before Your Pregnancy

More about the book

Now completely revised and updated, this classic guide helps prospective parents conceive more easily and enhance their chances of a healthy pregnancy. Covering preconception and interconception well-being for both women and men, the authors draw on new research to demonstrate how good preconception health can reduce pregnancy complications and promote lifelong wellness. The rationale for a ninety-day guide is that it takes this long for sperm to mature and for women to prepare their bodies for pregnancy. In a warm, intelligent style, the authors discuss contemporary topics such as age, heredity, vaccinations, supplements, and weight. The guide includes easily accessible chapters on various subjects: - **Nutrition:** Meal makeovers and facts about fish, omega-3s, vitamins, and herbs. - **Personal readiness:** Assessing emotional, financial, and physical readiness, including a preconception-friendly exercise program. - **Informed patient:** Choosing a doctor, understanding insurance, baby-friendly medications, and genetic screening guidelines. - **Women’s health:** Expanded coverage of conditions affecting fertility and pregnancy, and optimizing immune health. - **Environment:** Environmental exposures and travel tips. - **Men’s health:** Lifestyle advice for maximizing sperm health. - **Conception:** Signs to indicate when to start trying and debunking common myths. - **Infertility:** Reassuring options for reproductive as